Eurovision: These 7 European cities have hosted the song contest the most
This news got us thinking: Which European city has hosted the event the most?
Well, there are seven cities which make up the top four in terms of hosting duties, so let's take a look at who comes out on top. Molly Sterling of Ireland performs on stage during the second Semi Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna Pic:The Austrian capital has joined the list of cities that have hosted the Eurovision three times, after it was announced as the location for the 70th anniversary event.
The 2026 event will take place in the Wiener Stadthalle, which also hosted the 60th anniversary celebrations in 2015, and in 1967, it was the Grosser Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg that staged the show. Bambie Thug on the Malmo Arena stage in 2024. Pic: Andres Poveda
The popular Swedish city has also staged the song contest three times, in 1992, 2013 and 2024.
The Malmö Isstadion was the first venue in the city to earn the honour, with duties falling on the Malmö Arena after that. Nicky Byrne performing at the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final in Stockholm in 2016. Pic: Maja Suslin/TT/AFP via Getty Images
Sweden's second appearance on this list is its capital city, which has hosted Eurovision in 1975, 2000 and 2016.
The Sankt Eriks-Massen was the first venue chosen to stage the show, with the Globe Arena taking over from 2000. Kasey Smith performing in Copenhagen in 2014. Pic: Ragnar Singsaas/WireImage
Our third (and last) Scandanavian city on the list is the Danish city of Copenhagen, which has hosted the show three times.
In 1964, the Tivalis Koncertsal staged the event, followed by the Parken Stadium in 2001 and the B&W Hallerne in 2014. Irish singer Pat McGuigan competing for Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest (as Pat McGeegan) with the song Chance of a Lifetime in London's Royal Albert Hall in 1968 Pic: Larry Ellis/The city that has hosted the Eurovision the second-most times (well, joint second), is London, which has hosted a total of four times.
The city first helmed the event in 1960 at the Royal Festival Hall, and later moved to the BBC Television Centre in 1963.
On their next hosting, the event moved to the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in 1968, before moving to Wembley Conference Centre in 1977. Marion Rung performing at the 1962 Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg. Pic: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The other second-place city is Luxembourg city, who hosted four times throughout the last 70 years. The country had quite a good track record in the song contest before deciding to leave in 1995 and only rejoined in 2024.
The 1962 and 1966 event was hosted in the Villa Louvigny, while the 1973 and 1984 events were hosted in the Théâtre Municipal. Celine Dion on stage with Pat Kenny (left) at Dublin's RDS in 1988. Pic: Independent NewsIt should come as no surprise that the small, island nation that has won the Eurovision Song Contest a record sevent times has picked the same city as host for the majority of occasions.
While Sweden also has seven wins under their belt, they also have more venues available to them, but for Ireland, Dublin is the place with the largest venues.
Surprisingly though, it was the Gaiety Theatre that chosen in 1971 to stage the show, with the RDS Simmonscourt taking over in 1981 and 1988.
The Point Theatre (now the 3Arena) is the venue that has hosted the most Eurovisions, staging the show three times, in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
13 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Fans say the same thing as Natalie Portman tipped for Sinéad biopic
The reactions are rolling in following news that Natalie Portman could take on the role of Sinéad O'Connor in her upcoming biopic. While the resemblance is certainly there, fans are worried about one particular aspect of Portman's possible portrayal. The Nothing Compares 2 U singer died in 2023, with a number of production companies teaming up to recant her early life and career. The reactions are rolling in following news that Natalie Portman could take on the role of Sinéad O'Connor in biopic about the musician, and while the resemblance is certainly there, fans are worried about one aspect of Portman's possible portrayal. Pic: Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images The biopic is understood to have been in the works since Sinéad's documentary came out in 2022, with I.E. Entertainment one of the companies behind the project. The Sun report that Natalie, 44, is 'the actress the filmmakers want' for the role of Sinéad. A source told the publication: 'They think she is the spit of Sinéad in terms of her physicality but as an actress, they know she has strength and power to do justice.' In 2005, Natalie Portman shaved her head for her role as Evey Hammond on action-thriller V for Vendetta. Pic: George Pimentel/WireImage In 2005, Natalie shaved her head for her role as Evey Hammond on action-thriller V for Vendetta. Social media users have been having their say, and while there's no denying a resemblance between Portman and O'Connor, there is one thing the actress may not be able to master… 'Well now you mention it I could see that,' one commented under the announcement post, 'However her accent is gonna be shagging terrible.' The biopic is understood to have been in the works since Sinéad's documentary came out in 2022, with I.E. Entertainment one of the companies behind the project. Pic: Getty Images Another echoed: 'Can she do a convincing Irish accent through? She is very talented, but nothing about any of her work that I've seen suggests she will be able to pull that off.' A third objected objected: 'She'll be awful. There are so many Irish actors, shame that celebrity is more important than talent.' A fourth wrote: 'I understand the need for a Hollywood name, but you mean to convince me that there isn't a single Irish actress who could have faithfully played the role AND had the talent and charisma?' See-Saw Films are also onboard with the project along with Nine Daughters who previously worked on Paul Mescal's God's Creatures. It is being directed by Josephine Decker and written by Irish writer Stacey Gregg. Nine Daughters founder Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly and the Oscar-winning duo of Iain Canning and Emile Sherman from See-Saw will produce. They will be joined by Neil Chordia, with music heavyweight Tim Clark serving as executive producer on behalf of I.E. Entertainment, while the film's development is being funded by BBC Film.
Irish Post
13 hours ago
- Irish Post
The Saw Doctors whirlwind summer tour heads for Birmingham
VETERAN Irish folk rockers, The Saw Doctors are Birmingham-bound this week on the heels of sell-out US, Ireland and European dates. In a remarkable summer's touring extravaganza, the County Galway quintet have criss-crossed the United States and Ireland throughout July and August. Davy Carton Performing shows in Cleveland, Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, the band returned across the Atlantic and played Halifax's expansive Piece Hall courtyard in West Yorkshire, before making it home to Irish shores for more dates. Attending their Limerick Docklands show last weekend I captured them at their best. The midsummer night's Shannon-side crowd were high in expectation in another full capacity venue. The band's ironically-named opener on stage Exhilarating Sadness bestowed instead a dopamine hit of excitement upon the raucous fans inside the large carnival tent. Saw Doctors classics then followed, including, Clare Island, Joyce Country Céilí Band, To Win Just Once and the inevitable enveloping of the stage in Mayo's trademark colours to welcome Green and Red. Leo Moran Enter then on stage some acoustic magic - Ireland's renowned national traditional music treasure Sharon Shannon, to accompany the Galwaymen. The County Clare musician holds the record for having the best-selling album of traditional Irish music ever released in Ireland. She joined with her button accordion, to cover The Cranberries hit, Dreams as the crowd soaked up the surreal collaborative treat. This year marks the 35th anniversary of The Saw Doctor's hit, I Useta Lover which became Ireland's biggest-selling chart topper. The Christmas number one in 1990 followed on from that summer's hit, with the nostalgic ballad, N17. In the following four decades, the band's remaining and original front men, Galway's Davy Carton and Leo Moran - now in their 60s, show no sign of slowing down. Pensioner status or not. Germany was added to the summer itinerary, with the band playing to crowds in Berlin and Hamburg. And just days beforehand, The Saw Doctors toured Scottish Highlands, playing to appreciative audiences on the Isle of Skye. The Saw Doctors will play Bi rmingham's Pairc Summer Series Festival on Saturday, August 23, with support from The Undertones. They return for UK winter dates in Nottingham (7 November). London (8 November), Newcastle (5 December) and Manchester (6 December). All tickets available via HERE The Irish Post's Peter Kelly See More: Mayo, Páirc, The Saw Doctors
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Vienna to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026
The city will become joint fourth on the list of places which have hosted the contest the most times, alongside Copenhagen, Malmo and Stockholm, with Austrian broadcaster ORF hosting the event. Eurovision's 70th final will take place at the city's Wiener Stadthalle arena on May 16, after a bidding process for cities saw officials examine facilities, infrastructure and the ability to accommodate visiting delegations, fans and journalists. Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: 'The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) is thrilled that Vienna has been selected as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. 'Vienna's reputation as one of the most musical cities in the world, and its location in the heart of Europe, makes it the perfect host city for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. 'The city's exceptional Stadthalle was a great venue for the 60th contest in 2015 and we're very much looking forward to welcoming delegations, artists and fans alike back there next May as the world's largest live music event celebrates 70 glorious years of being united by music. 'Together with host broadcaster ORF and the city of Vienna we will create a spectacular celebration of music that will reverberate across the world.' Vienna's City Hall will host the event's opening ceremony on May 10, and go on to host EuroClub, the contest's pop-up, nightlife spot, while the square outside will host the Eurovision Village, an open air screening zone. Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, added: 'In Vienna, we can be proud that our city has been selected by the EBU and ORF as the most suitable host city for one of the world's largest events. 'We submitted a convincing overall package with enormous accommodation capacities, excellent infrastructure, and a lot of experience in hosting international events. 'Additionally, we placed great emphasis on offering numerous Eurovision Song Contest events in public spaces that can be visited free of charge. 'As the mayor of Vienna, it is very important to me that cultural events are accessible to everyone, regardless of the size of their wallet. 'As the mayor of Vienna, I am, of course, pleased that Vienna was able to prevail and that Austria can represent itself again next year. We will have a great May together, I am convinced of that.' Further details including ticketing will be released later this year. Eurovision's 2025 final saw Israeli singer Yuval Raphael finish as runner-up, after her team said she was left 'shaken and upset' after pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards a barrier while she was on stage. Following the incident, Swiss police confirmed two people were handed over to them and that they were later released, while the organiser, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, released a statement saying that a crew member was hit with paint but was 'fine'.
